At just 26, former BVB talent sidelined again by injury, career in doubt | OneFootball

Bitter Injury: Former BVB talent Luca Kilian has torn his cruciate ligament again and will be out for months. The 26-year-old is fighting for his professional career for the third time.

Luca Kilian, a former player of Borussia Dortmund, is facing a dramatic phase in his career. The 26-year-old suffered another cruciate ligament tear on Monday during training with 1. FC Köln – the third in 18 months. The injury occurred during a harmless exercise without any tackles, when Kilian twisted his right knee and fell to the ground screaming.

For the defensive player, this means another setback on the difficult path back to professional football. Kilian first tore his cruciate ligament in March 2024, followed shortly by a second tear in December 2024 during a match for the U21 in the Regionalliga West. Despite these setbacks, he fought his way back into training and trained with the team for the first time again in the summer.

Former BVB Talent Kilian Suffers Third Cruciate Ligament Tear in 18 Months

FC sports director Thomas Kessler commented on Kilian's injury: “Luca's renewed cruciate ligament injury hits us all very hard. It is incredibly bitter that he is now confronted with such a severe injury for the third time. As the FC family, we will closely support him, provide him with the best possible assistance, and ensure together that he finds the strength needed to overcome this setback. Luca is a fighter – he has proven this multiple times in the past. This trait will also help him now to overcome this difficult path.”

Kilian, who went through all the stages of BVB's youth system between 2011 and 2019, later played 28 matches for Dortmund's U23 and was also active for Mainz 05, SC Paderborn, and BVB's second team. Since 2022, he has been playing for 1. FC Köln, where his contract runs until 2026. In total, the central defender has 81 Bundesliga appearances and 55 games in the Regionalliga.

Following the diagnosis, surgery is now scheduled, followed by a lengthy rehab. Luca Kilian will be absent from Effzeh for at least eight months, and the big question remains whether his body can withstand a fourth attempt.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.